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The State Fair is on; special secret season for the North Shore

The Great Minnesota Get-Together is starting up this week. If you want S’Mores without the hassle of 1) camping, 2) campfires and 3) stick whittling, you could go to the Fair and patronize the “Real S’Mores” shack. They might even put it on a stick for you.

But if you want another authentic Minnesota experience, head for the North Shore instead. As soon as the Fair starts, the summer crowds on the North Shore drop right off. Shhhhh…it’s the special secret season!As of today, there are open campsites you can still reserve at every North Shore state park from Gooseberry to Judge Magney. Come mid-week you can have your choice of any park. Things will pick up over Labor Day weekend; get up here and enjoy the special secret late summer season.

If you come to the North Shore in the next week or so and you still need a taste of the Big Fair, you can check out the Midway, livestock judging and even greasy food at the Lake County Fair, August 25-28.